complete a Synthesis Grid $($a pre$-$writing tool$),$

help you organize your thinking for a literature review $($the Review of Preliminary Research part of the Research Proposal$),$ and

begin the process of synthesizing your research.

After completing the grid you should be able to use this tool to help you write about your sources$$ discussion of your research question in the Review of Preliminary Research portion of your research proposal.

Synthesizing City Limits $-$ Population: Strategic Readers.

Begin with Background Prior Knowledge.

Merge New Knowledge from New Reading: New Perspective, Original Idea, New Line of Thinking, and Achieved Insight.

We're there!

Instructions

Complete the following steps:

Please download, complete, and submit the Blank Synthesis Grid Download Blank Synthesis Grid.

First, list your research question. $($If you need to develop a research question, consult M$01$ Learning Activities, M$01$ Discussion $-$ Possible Research Questions, and$/$or M$02$ Discussion $-$ Comparing Secondary Sources.$)$

Review your sources, looking specifically for patterns and common themes and$/$or central issues in the research. What themes$/$issues pertaining to your research question are often discussed in multiple sources on this topic $($even if the sources have differing perspectives on those themes$/$issues$)?$ Narrow down to four $(4)$ common themes or issues. List these themes across the top row of the grid.

List the standard in$-$text citation, in APA style or MLA style, for each of your sources vertically in the left column of the grid.

You need to include a total of four $(4)$ sources in the Synthesis Grid $-$ at least $(1)$ Primary Source and up to three $(3)$ Secondary Sources.

These sources can be those collected for M$01$ and M$02$ Discussion and$/$or sources you planned to use for the Research Proposal, so long as they meet the criteria above.

Don't know what a primary source versus a secondary source is$?$ Check out the video "Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources" and the reading $"7\mathrm{.}5$ USING THE RIGHT SOURCES FOR YOUR PROJECT" in M$02$ Learning Activities

ALTERNATIVE: If you've chosen to conduct primary research rather than to collect primary sources $($see M$01$ Writing Task $-$ Research Proposal Instructions for more on this$),$ collect and analyze $4$ secondary sources instead of the above.

In the second column, identify whether the source is a primary source or a secondary source, and explain why you consider it a primary source or a secondary source.

For each source, list useful paraphrases, examples, or quotes that relate to each theme$/$issue$.$

Focus especially on those paraphrases, examples, or quotations that illustrate how the sources differ in perspective and$/$or where all or most seem to agree.

Note the paragraph number, or other details that will help you locate the what you paraphrased, quoted, or summarized in the source later on$.$ You want to be able to refer back to the source at a later date if you decide to use the source to support views.

NOTE: Most of the boxes in the grid should contain some information though it is okay if a few boxes are blank if some of the sources don't discuss a specific theme or issue.

A completed Sample Synthesis Grid has been provided for your reference.

Lastly, list, in alphabetical order, the source citations, in APA or MLA style, for your sources $($source citations are what go in the References or Works Cited page$).$